Author: Kanayan Tamar

NAIRIT FATE IS UNKNOWN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:27:19 – 09/02/2012

The modernization plan of Nairit Chemical Plant of Yerevan is under
consideration, said Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen
Movsisyan to Lragir.am. Foreign experts are invited to Armenia to
give a final assessment to the worked out project, he said.

“If the project is positive, it will be presented. The assessment
should be based on how right and modern the project is”, said the
minister without providing further details. According to him, the
project supposes an investment of over USD 400 million in the plant.

The Minister rejected the information on the ongoing staff reduction,
in particular, of the leadership, in the plant.

Nairit Plant has huge debts and does not work at this moment, and
the employees are jobless at this moment without having received the
salaries of previous months. The press secretary of the plant Anush
Harutyunyan said rumors on reductions are just talks. She says the
plant has not paid the salaries for 5 months.

Recall 90% of Nairit shares is owned by Rhinoviille Property Ltd
consortium, 10% – government of Armenia.

OPPOSITIONIST: BILL ON LEGAL REGIME OF STATE OF EMERGENCY RUNS COUNTER TO CONSTITUTION OF ARMENIA

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 19:27

The Bill on Legal Regime of the State of Emergency adopted by
the Armenian Parliament on Feb 9 completely runs counter to the
Constitution of Armenia, Zoya Tadevosyan, representative of the
opposition Armenian National Congress, said at today’s press conference
in Yerevan.

“By adopting this bill, the authorities make the lawlessness legal,
hereby insuring themselves against an attempted revolution in case
of electoral fraud and against reoccurrence of 1 March events, which
have probably been planned already”, Tadevosyan said.

For his part, MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Artak
Davtyan stressed the necessity of this law for the cases when the
national security is endangered. He welcomed this law and said:
“We even should have passed this law before 2008 to legalize the
safety measures in case of extreme situations”, Davtyan said.

To recall, on Feb 9 the Armenian Parliament adopted the bill on
Legal Regime of State of Emergency in the first reading. According to
the bill, the state of emergency in the republic may be introduced
only in case of circumstances which are directly dangerous for the
Constitutional regime of Armenia. To ensure the legal regime of the
state of emergency, the forces of police, national security and state
security structures may be used. The armed forces should be used
only in case the forces of the police and national security cannot
implement their task.

ARMENIAN SURB NSHAN CHURCH COMES ACROSS A NEW ACT OF VANDALISM

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 19:21

The Armenian Surb Nshan Church has come across a new act of vandalism.

Head of the Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) Foundation Samvel
Karapetyan says in his interview with ArmInfo that recently a signal
has been received that the marble font broke down during the cleaning
of the church from the aftermath of a fire. The expert points out that
all the Armenian churches appropriated by Georgia have come across
such situation. “This shows that they want to appropriate the Surb
Nshan Church, too”, stresses Karapetyan.

According to Karapetyan, the Georgian party has recently stated that
there allegedly used to be a Georgian church in the place of Surb
Nshan. “It is true that there used to be a more ancient church in
the place of Surb Nshan. But the fact is that it was also an Armenian
church. This is proved by the materials dated 1624 and 1656”, he says.

Moreover, the ancient church was mentioned in 1672 by a French
traveler, who visited Tiflis and pointed out that church among three
Armenian churches.

The construction of the Surb Nshan Church was launched in 1703 and
completed in 1720.

On 9 Jan 2012 a fire occurred in the Surb Nshan Church, as a result
of which the northeastern part of the church collapsed. An Armenian
delegation visited Georgia to see the situation on the spot. A mutual
decision was made to clean the territory from the garbage and restore
the church. The Georgian party assumed the commitment to clean the
church from the garbage.

GENOZID AN ARMENIERN: BERLIN SOLL TURKEI AUS VOLKERMORD-KLEMME HELFEN

Welt Online

8 febr 2012
Deutscheland

Der turkische EU-Minister Bagis leugnet den Volkermord in Armenien. Er
fordert eine Beteiligung Deutschlands an der historischen Klarung.

Egemen Bagis ist kein Mann, der Konflikte scheut. Der turkische
EU-Minister forderte die Schweizer Behorden jetzt heraus, ihn zu
verhaften. Grund: Er leugnet, dass es 1915 einen Genozid an den
Armeniern durch die Turken gab. Das aber ist in der Schweiz strafbar,
die Behorden ermitteln.

Der Politiker, der der Regierungspartei AKP von Premier Erdogan
angehort, gibt sich gelassen. ~DEuropa hat doch Werte, und einer
davon ist die Meinungsfreiheit. Deshalb darf jeder, der das Geschehen
von 1915 als Genozid betrachtet, es auch als solchen bezeichnen. Und
wer das nicht so sieht, kann das ebenfalls tun”, erklarte Bagis im
Gesprach mit “Welt Online”.

Der EU-Minister forderte fur die historische Klarung eine Beteiligung
Deutschlands. ~DEiner der starksten Alliierten der Armenier 1915 war
Deutschland. Ich frage mich, was in den deutschen Archiven liegt. Die
Deutschen sollten ihre Archive offnen und Historiker das Material
auswerten lassen.” Hintergrund fur die neuerliche Eskalation des
Streits ist ein vom franzosischen Senat Ende Januar gebilligtes
Gesetz, das die Leugnung des Genozids an den Armeniern unter Strafe
stellt. ~DMir zeigen alle Dokumente, die ich gesehen habe, dass die
Geschehnisse von 1915 nicht als Genozid bezeichnet werden konnen”,
so Bagis.

Es sei ein Burgerkrieg wahrend eines Weltkriegs gewesen. ~DAuf beiden
Seiten gab es Opfer. Ungefahr 2,5 Millionen Muslime wurden getotet
und rund 650.000 Armenier, in derselben Gegend”, so der Minister. Das
franzosische Vorgehen verurteilte Bagis scharf: ~DIch bin Politiker.

Politiker haben die Verantwortung, die Zukunft zu gestalten, nicht
die Vergangenheit. Wir sind gewahlt, um Gesetze fur die Zukunft zu
machen, nicht fur die vergangenen 500 Jahre. Es ist dumm, Parlamente
entscheiden zu lassen, wie Geschichte verlaufen sein soll.”

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT DISCUSSED AT NETHERLANDS DEFENSE ACADEMY

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani ambassador to the Netherlands Fuad Iskenderov met
with teachers and students of the Academy of National Defense, the
Azerbaijani embassy in the Netherlands told Trend.

In his remarks Iskenderov spoke about the prospects for cooperation
in security at the international and regional levels, and informed
about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, emphasizing
the destructive position of Armenia in the conflict resolution process.

The economic development of Azerbaijan, its role in regional and
international projects was also discussed.

After the meeting, the representative of the Defense Academy,
Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel de Haas expressed his appreciation to the
Azerbaijani diplomat for the meeting and the detailed information.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

EU DISCUSSES NEW IDEAS ON GARABAGH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

SIA INFORMATION AGENCY
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

European Union’s Special Representative for South Caucasus Philippe
Lefort has concluded his visit to Azerbaijan.

EU representative in Azerbaijan Roland Kobia informs that yesterday
Lefort held in Baku talks with the President, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and the Justice Minister and also had a separate block of
consultations on the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

“Negotiations on the conflict settlement are linked with the initiative
of European Commissioner Catherine Ashton on strengthening of the EU’s
involvement in the settlement process. Lefort exchanged views with
the leadership of new ideas to strengthen the EU’s role in conflict
resolution. Our ideas are being discussed with the governments of
Azerbaijan and Armenia and are signed in a general way in strengthening
the contacts between citizens of both countries.

Currently we are not ready to disclose fully all the proposed package
of initiatives,” Kobia said.

Today, the EU is represented in the Minsk Group on conflict settlement
by France.

Aynur Mehtiyeva

PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT TALKS OF GERMANY’S ‘DIFFICULT’ HISTORY
By Martin Banks

The Parliament

Feb 8 2012
Belgium

Parliament’s president Martin Schulz has spoken of the “demons” of
Germany’ past during a press conference discussion on the ‘Armenian
genocide’ of 1915-16.

The German deputy made an impassioned reference to his country’s
“difficult” past after a meeting with Egemen Bagis, the Turkish
minister for EU affairs and chief negotiator in its accession
negotiations.

In a briefing with journalists after their meeting, Bagis and Schulz
commented on the ‘Armenian genocide’ and a new bill recently adopted
by the French senate.

The bill will make it illegal to deny that the mass killing of
Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman empire was genocide. The bill has
infuriated the Turkish establishment, which has threatened France
with permanent sanctions.

There is general agreement that hundreds of thousands of Armenians
died when the Ottoman Turks deported them en masse from eastern
Anatolia to the Syrian desert and elsewhere in 1915-16.

The deported Armenians were either killed or died from starvation
or disease.

The total number of Armenian dead is disputed. Armenians say 1.5
million died. The Republic of Turkey estimates the total to be 300,000.

According to the international association of genocide scholars
(IAGS), the death toll was “more than a million”.

Bagis refused to be drawn on an investigation launched by Switzerland
for remarks in which he allegedly denied the ‘genocide’ took place.

He said: “Switzerland is not member of the EU and I will not spend
one second to talk about non EU issue”.

Speaking alongside Bagis on Tuesday, Schulz underlined the “clear
position” of parliament, which in a resolution in 2005 called on
“Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide and considers this
recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the EU”.

Schulz, in his first month as president of parliament, went on,
“As a German I know also the history of my own country and the role
the imperial army of Germany played in previous times.

“Nevertheless, my recommendation to the Turkish authorities is the
same as it was in previous times. You should face your own history
and you should allow independent inquiries about your history.

“If the independent inquiries come to the conclusion that it was
genocide, you should recognise it, but I think it’s first up to Turkey
to solve the problem. I respect the parliamentarian autonomy and the
independence of the French parliament and respect the law adopted
in France.

“‘I know that there are a lot of people in the EU sharing the views
of the French MPs,” Schulz added.

The Socialist member went on, “As a German and especially as German
president of multinational parliament, I have to live every day with
our past, which is not an easy past.

“It is a very difficult one. Demons of the past are lasting until
today, every day I am confronted with the past of my country.

“But my country, and I am proud of this, during the last six decades
is facing its own history; is recognising not to be guilty – because
our generation is not guilty for the crimes committed in the past.

“But we are responsible for avoiding that it could happen once more.

To be as open as possible to the past is the best way to the future,”
Schulz said.

SARKOZY NEEDS SUPPORT OF SMALL GROUPS IN ORDER NOT TO LOSE ELECTION

Trend
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan

Despite the fact that a law criminalizing denial of so-called “Armenian
genocide” was passed by the Senate of France, it does not mean the
full completion of the adoption of this law, the head of the Center
of Political Innovations and Technologies, a political scientist
Mubariz Ahmedoglu said at a briefing held in the conference hall of
Trend on Tuesday.

Ahmedoglu said, a group of French senators, who opposes the law
appealed to the Constitutional Council, using the possibilities
offered by the French law.

“Thus, the question of the “Armenian genocide” has again become
a subject of political games. Armenian anti-Turkish position has
repeatedly transformed them and their feelings, which they consider
sacred, to instrument in the hands of other countries. Now, if this
law is adopted, the repetition of similar initiatives will be unlikely
in the near future, as the parliamentary and presidential elections
will soon begin,” Ahmedoglu said.

“Sarkozy is a weak leader, and he needs such a small groups in order
not to lose the election,” Ahmedoglu said.

Previously on January 23, after an eight-hour debate, the French
senate adopted the bill. Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86
voted against.

The bill demands a years imprisonment and a fine of ~@45,000 for
denying the so-called “genocide.”

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the
Turkey – Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the
Armenians living in Anadolu and have achieved recognition of the
“Armenian Genocide” by the parliaments of several countries.

1109 PERSONS SETTLED IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES WITHIN ARTIFICIAL SETTLEMENT POLICY CONDUCTED BY ARMENIA

APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. 1109 persons were settled to Nagorno
Karabakh within the artificial settlement policy conducted by Armenia
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

APA reports quoting “Regnum” agency that the number of Armenians
settled in Nagorno Karabakh in comparison with 2010 was more than
373 people.

55.7% of people, which were brought to Karabakh, settled in Lachin,
10% in Khankendi, 8.8% in Agdere-Kalbajar. 91.9% of Armenians brought
to Karabakh said that they would like to live there permanently.

94% of settlers are from Armenia, 4.2 from Russia. Besides, 663
persons left Nagorno Karabakh last year.

TURQUIE : LE MINISTRE DES AFFAIRES EUROPEENNES NIE DE NOUVEAU LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 8 fevrier 2012

Le ministre turc des Affaires europeennes, vise par une enquete en
Suisse pour avoir nie le genocide armenien, a une nouvelle fois affirme
ce mardi que le massacre de 1915 commis par les forces ottomanes ne
relevait pas du genocide.

” J’ai dit ce jour-la que ce qu’il s’est passe en 1915 n’etait pas un
genocide et je le repète aujourd’hui. Personne ne devrait douter du
fait que je donnerai cette reponse chaque fois qu’on me le demandera
“, a declare Egemen Bagis lors d’une conference de presse.

” S’il le faut, j’irai devant Davos et je dirai la meme chose ”

La justice suisse a ouvert lundi une enquete preliminaire afin de
determiner si le ministre turc, en visite en Suisse, avait viole la
loi par des propos sur le genocide armenien. Selon differents medias,
Egemen Bagis s’en est pris a Davos puis a Zurich au projet de loi
qui prevoit de criminaliser en France la negation du genocide. Il a
affirme qu’il n’existait pas de genocide armenien.

” Je ne reconnais pas un pouvoir qui est en mesure d’arreter un
ministre de la Republique turque. Je suis très a l’aise sur ce sujet.

S’il le faut, j’irai devant Davos et je dirai la meme chose “,
a assure ce mardi Bagis. La Suisse possède dans son code penal un
article qui reprime les actes de racisme, y compris la negation
publique des genocides.